TV anime Tenmaku no Jaadūgaru held a special screening at Japan Expo 2026 in Paris on July 10, drawing a large crowd of fans. The event featured episodes 1 through 4, and before the screening, TV Asahi producer Endō Kazuki took the stage to share the show’s appeal with the French audience.
The anime, which began airing in Japan last weekend and has already trended widely, is also generating buzz overseas since its release on various streaming platforms. When asked about the adaptation process, Endō explained that he had read the original manga and found it incredibly compelling, wanting to bring it to animation himself. He noted the unique balance between the cute, deformed art style and the serious, hard-hitting story.
Endō added that animating such deformed characters flexibly is surprisingly difficult, and he felt that most studios would struggle with it. He decided to approach Science SARU, a studio known for its artistic challenges, and was pleased that they deeply resonated with the work.
Regarding the production’s location hunt in Mongolia, Endō revealed that chief director Yamada Naoko, director Abel Gongora, and background art staff traveled there together. He recalled that the most memorable experience was a homestay in a ger (traditional yurt) with actual nomadic families. This firsthand experience of their lifestyle helped the team understand how the characters might have lived after moving to Mongolia and encountering its culture, which greatly influenced the direction and depiction of various scenes. The audience responded with enthusiastic applause.
When asked about collaboration with original author Tomato Soup, Endō explained that depicting the culture and history of that era was extremely challenging. The production team diligently researched numerous documents and materials. Tomato Soup, being a serious historical researcher, provided a detailed list of reference materials. Endō said they frequently asked the author whether specific depictions were accurate and what intentions lay behind them, maintaining close communication. The team also consulted other experts. The depth of historical research, which has been a topic of discussion on social media, was made possible thanks to the cooperation of Tomato Soup and other specialists. This drew further applause from the audience.
Endō closed his talk by noting that the screening offered a rare chance to see episodes 3 and 4, which had not yet been publicly released. He encouraged the audience to enjoy the animation from start to finish. After the screening, the venue erupted in thunderous applause and cheers, bringing the Japan Expo 2026 special screening to a successful close.
Tenmaku no Jaadūgaru is currently streaming on Crunchyroll in over 200 countries and regions. In Japan, it airs on TV Asahi’s nationwide 24-station IMAnimation slot and BS Asahi every Saturday at 23:30, with sequential streaming on various platforms.
